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A. LOWNDES CENTRIFUGAL CLUTCH Feb. 21, 1933.

Original Filed nee. 29, 192-1 V I Inventor ARTHUR Lowevbas M 6? W Jitter-n9;

Reiuued Feb. 21, 1933 UNITED STATES LOWHDES, 01' TORONTO, ONTARIO, CANADA onrrm'ruean (more! original I0. 1,745,881, dated Iebruary 4, 1980, Berta! I0. 8,848, fled December 88, 1927.

, reissue fled Ilnuary 25, 1982. Serial R0. 588,686.

The invention relates to improvements in centrifu l clutches as described in the present s cification and shown in the drawing whic form part of the same.

I The invention ap ertains primarily to centrifugal clutches of the class emplo ed for the purpose of gradually appl ing t e load to a prime mover, such as an ind uction motor, as it is started. As is well known, it is im- 10 perative that some form of intermediary be used in conjunction with a motor of this nature in order to slowly apply the load and thus avoid consequent detrimental results. This clutch therefore has been designed 16 chiefly with a view to producin a more efli- .cacious and serviceable device or the purpose aforementioned, although it is capable of general application in the transmission of power where it is necessary to relieve jar 80 and strain incidental to the sudden picking up of a load.

The salient feature of the invention resides in the rovision of friction shoes interfitted one with another so as to advance and recede $5 in unison. I

This maintains the balance of the clutch at all times. smoother runnin anduieter 'operating clutch which is highly desirable for certain ca acities such as in household appliances.

n carrying out this invention, a ring is com d of segmental centrifugal members,

or s oes, the centre of which is concentric.

with the clutch axis as also is the centre of 35 gravity. The centrifugal members on account of their symmetry do not shift the centre of gravity as they advance radially under centrifugal force for applying clutchin pressure. he means for causing the centrifugal members to move in unison consists of elements forming an interfittin connection between the members that on y. allows them to have relative uniform movement.

In the referred embodiment of the invention the interfitting elements consist of projections integral with or secured to the centrifu al members and HER ed in slots provide in the members. ac member has a ejection extending from one of its abutting so as to engage in a slotted portion 0 Furthermore it results in a.

Application for the adjacent abutting face of the adjoining member. The ring of centrifugal members faced with a friction lining that consists of ndividual lengths, one for each member so that it is ressed thereby into clutching contact with t e driven member.

A distinctive advantage accruin from the rm formation of the centrifuga members 18 t at the maximum potentialarea of clutch face is utilized for a given size of clutch. Furthermore the greater weight of the centrifugal members results in the transmission of high torque atcomparatively low speeds.

Referring to the rawin Figure 1 is a vertical section through t e clutch, taken axially.

Figure 2 is a section taken at right angles to the axis and depicting the ma'or portion of the lower half broken awa n this view the shoes are shown expands Figure 3 is a similar section, but showing the top portion broken away. In this view the shoes are illustrated as contracted or free.

Like numerals of reference indicate correspondin parts in each of the figures throughout the rawing.

In the drawing, the reference numeral 10 denotes generally the driving member of the clutch and 11 the driven member hereinafter referred to as the drum.

The driving member is keyed or otherwise secured to the shaft 12 which extends as usual from the prime mover or other source of ower transmission. The drum is mounted or independent rotation on the shaft and is retained against axial movement in the resent instance by a ring 13 bolted to the rum and shouldered against the drivin member, although it is to be understood 1; at other means maybe employed for this end. The drum carries a spur-gear 14 or other means for taking ofi power, which gear is fastened to the boss 15.

The centrifugal members or shoes 16 are disposed between the driving member and the ,drum, and are free to move radially outwardly under centrifugal action. Each shoe is a segment of a ring and is faced with a lining, as at 17, for engagement with the interior polished surface 18 of thedrum. The

I are applied to the outer faces of the shoes and may be of conventional material preferabl soaked in oil.

The re ial faces 19 of the segmental shoes interfitby means of the provision of projections 20 integral with one of these faces of each flioeywhich projections are engaged with recesses su phed in the adjoining faces v respectively of t e adjacent shoes. vThis conl0 dogs 22, there being one located at eac juncture of the shoes near the riphery thereof. Each dog is wedge-shape the apex of the wedge in each case inting towards the axis of rotation. The slides are cut awa to allow for the dogs. These do abut the shoes and lini as depicted in t e drawin and form a positive connection with the drivmember.

e sides 21a of the projections are disposed at a lesser distance from the dogs 22 than the thickness of the lining so that in the event of the lining wearing excessively these sides will encounter the dogs before the periphery of theshoes rub a ainst the drum,

thus preventing scorin the atter.

, It will be manifest om the preceding description that the drivin member carries the dogs around with it an as the linings are.

positively engaged therewith they too are carried around it at the same time. In the 1 1 starting of the clutch the centrifugal members acquire suflicient force to spread them outwardlyso as-to press a ainst the linin As the clutch is accelerate the centrifuge members 'apply suflicient pressure to throw in the clutch. I 1 What I claim is:

1. A centrifugal clutch comprising a driv- 4 ing member, a drum constituting a driven member, a complement of friction shoes car ried by the driving member and having interfitting means toenable them to advance "and'recede in unison, and driving means borne by the driving member but not physically' connected to the shoes.

2.: A1 centrifugal clutch comprising a driving member, a drum constituting a driven member, a complement of friction shoes each of which is a segment of a ring that encircles the axis of. rotation, the component shoes functioning to preclude displacement of each other, said shoes being designed to interfit to enable them to advance and recede in uni g and recede in unison.

son and driving means therefor borne by the driven member but not physically connected to the shoes.

3. In a centrifu l clutch, a driving member, a driven mem r, a com lement of centrifugal members for app ying clutchingpressure, said centrifugal members composlng a ring around the axis of rotation when com tracted andada ted to fly outwardly in segments under the influence of centrifu al force, the individual segmental members 'ing interconnected so as to have uniform expansile action, and means for inducing rotation of said segmental members, said means trifugal membe for app ying clutchin pressure, means for urging the centrif members to rotate, said means bein carried r, 'a com lement of cenby the driving member ,but not p ysicallyconnected to the centrifugal members and 3 interfitting means incorplorzfied in t'hle cene em to vancetrifugal members to ena 5. In a centrifu ber, a driven mem r,,a com lement of centrifugal members for app ing clutching pressure and having slots t erein, projections carried by the centrifu al members and engaged in said slots to ena le the mema complement of centri gal members eachof which is of a segmental character disposed about the axisof rotation, linin providing circumferentially arranggds for around the centrifugal mem means for revolving the centrifugal members but not physical y connected thereto, and means interconnecting the centrifugal members to enable them to advance and recede in unison.

7. In a centrifu l clutch, a driving member, a drum constltutin a complement ofcentri gal members each of which is of a segmental character disposed about the axis of rotation, linings circumferentially arranged around the centrifugal members, means carried by the driving member for rotating the centrifu members but not physically connect thereto and means interconnecting the centrifugal members to enable them to advance and th 1 ah centri u c u comprising a 'ving member, a drum constituting a driven clutch, a driving memacmgs a driven member,

man

member, a complement of friction shoes 08rried by the driving member and having interfittmg means to enable them to advance I and recede in unison, and driving dogs borne by the drivin member but not physically connected to t e shoes. 7

9. A centrifugal clutch comprising a-driving member, a drum constituting a driven member, a complement of friction shoes each 1 of which-is a segment of a ring that encircles the axis of rotation, the component segmental shoes functioning to reclude dis-' placement of each other, sai shoes being designed to intcrfit to enable them to advance and recede in unison, and do borne by the driving member but not physically connected to the'shoes.

10. In a centrifugal clutch, a driving memher, a driven member, a complement of mev tallic shoes, linings aflixed to the shoes, interfitting elements borne by the shoes to enable themto advance and recede in unison, and (logs carried by the driving member for precluding independent rotation of the shoes,

said dogs also functioning to constrain the outward movement of the shoes to revent them coming in contact with the riving member when the linings are worn excessively.

11. In a centrifugal clutch, a driving memher, a driven member, a complement of metallic shoes, linings affixed to the shoes, interfitt'ing elements borne by the shoes to enable them to advance and recede in unison, and dogs carried by the driving member for pro-l eluding independentrotation of the shoes, said dogs being constructed and arranged to cooperate with the interfittin elements for the purpose of preventing the shoes from 40 contacting with the driving member when the linings are excessively worn.

'12. In a centrifugal clutch, a drivin memher, a driven member in drum form iaving an interior annular clutch surfaoe, a complement of friction shoes loosely disposedfor outward movement under centrifugal force, said shoes being segments of a ring, interfitting projections and recesses provided on the ad o1ning faces of the shoes to enable them to advance and recede in unison, linings affixed to the shoes,- and dogs located at the adjoinin faces of the shoes and arranged to engage t e projections thereof at a $11 htly lesser distance than the thickness 0 the linings to prevent said shoes from contacting with theclutch surface of the drum when the said linings are excessively worn.

Signed at Toronto, Ontario, Canada, this 21st day of J anuafi1932.

THUR LOWNDES. 

